Overview
- The Zolling coal power plant, Bavaria's last major coal facility, ceased regular operations this week as part of Germany's coal phaseout plan.
- The plant will stay in reserve until March 31, 2031, to provide backup energy during periods of insufficient wind or solar power generation.
- The site's 140 employees will remain employed, as the energy park also includes a biomass heating plant and other facilities.
- The Federal Network Agency approved the operator's request to shut down regular operations, with the plant previously burning around 500,000 tons of coal annually.
- The closure marks a milestone in Germany's energy transition, with coal's share in electricity generation falling to its lowest level since the 1950s.